Dale Jr is in the Xfinity house this evening. It’s his first race since his retirement. Amy, Isla, and Kelley Earnhardt-Miller are there with him. He seems happy and proud. Elliott Sadler’s family joins him at his last full-time start at his home track. The drivers’ intro looked like the Cup All-Star Race presentation of the drivers, though I’m not sure if all of the driver’s teams came out with them, or only some of them. This is the first race of the Xfin playoffs. Regular season champ Justin ‘Dewy Alligator’ Allgaier (1) had his daughter with him during the pre-race ceremonies. They seemed to be having fun together. The stages are 75-75-100. Wyatt and Austyn Sadler joined the Grand Marshalls in giving the command. ‘Reckless’ Ryan Reed (16) and Ross Chastain(42) will start at the back of the field for unapproved adjustments. Christopher Bell (20) and Dale Earnhardt Jr (88) will lead the 40 car field to green.
Katherine Legge (15) is in tonight’s race.
Justin (7) and Jr are racing hard at the front of the field. We’re often stuck looking through the windshield and unable to actually see the battle. Dale Jr is trying hard to find a way around ‘Dewy Alligator’. Respectable racing and not reckless or desperate.
Christopher Bell (20) has passed Jr for second. Daniel Hemric (21) is now snapping at Dale Jr’s heels.
Hemric gets around Jr on lap 31 of 250. Christopher Bell keeps rattling Allgaier’s cage. They continue to battle through lap traffic. Hemric is hot on their heels.
Hemric is trying to get around Bell. TV goes to commercial. No split screen for now.
Hemric takes the lead from Allgaier on lap 46.
Stage one ends with Daniel Hemric out front.
Christopher Bell finished second; Dale Jr third; Matt Tifft (2) fourth, Justin Allgaier edges out Elliott Sadler for fifth.
Matt Tifft is headed back into the pits on lap 82 of 250 with a flat left front tire. A lugnut hit the valve stem and caused the flat tire.
Christopher Bell and Daniel Hemric will lead the field to green on lap 85 of 250.
MRN is reporting action on the track with Cole Custer, we’re stuck looking out the rear window of Dale Earnhardt Jr’s car at Justin Allgaier’s car – for no apparent reason.
Dale Earnhardt Jr takes the lead on lap 125 of 250.
Caution on lap 146 of 250 for a wreck by Ty ‘Menace’ Majeski (60). Looks like ‘Reckless’ Ryan Reed (16) tapped him in the rear.
The stage will end under caution with Dale Earnhardt Jr (88) in the lead.
MRN’s Alex Hayden – is saying this is Dale Earnhardt Jr’s first stage win in any series.
Dale Jr and Christopher Bell will restart first and second leading the field to the green flag on lap 159 of 250.
Caution on lap 160 of 250 for Katherine Legge (15) psinning into the infield grass.
Restarting on lap 165 of 250 with Dale Jr and Christopher Bell leading the field to green.
Caution on lap 218 of 250 for Katherine Legge (15) scraping the wall.
Matt Tifft (2) and Dale Earnhardt Jr (88) will be out front on the restart.
Restarting on lap 225 of 250.
Caution on lap 226 of 250 for Justin Allgaier in the wall. Cole Custer (00) got into him after the Austin Cindric (22) got into Custer getting him loose. Ryan Reed was on the inside – they were 4 wide due to Austin ‘Son of a Penske’ Cindric trying to make a space where there wasn’t a space.
Justin Allgaier, helmet in hand, is waking through the garage area as his crew pushes his car from his pit stall toward the garage.
Restarting on lap 236 of 250 with Matt Tifft (2) and Christopher Bell (20) at the front of the field.
We return to action after Justin Allgaier’s interview and the shot switches almost immediately to an out-the-windshield-shot. Useless.
Christopher Bell wins.
Ross Chastain (42) will be out of the Ganassi car going forward and back in his 4 car for Johnny Davis Motorsports.
Jr and Elliott Sadler (1) had a moment after the race. Jr said he talked to Elliott about the fact that this is the last time they will race each other. Jr said it just suddenly hit him at that moment on the track. He said they’ve been close since they race Late Models years ago.
Elliott has 30 family members and friends cheering him on at the track tonight.